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Then the duke usedthe voice.The calm, slow one he used when he said things he considered important. “Yes, son. She’s a child of the people, and if you marry one of them, then you’re no longer a threat. The commoners…there have been some protests the last few years. And we didn’t help matters. I chose your mother because I loved her, but a duke with a princess? No one likes that story. It would be very useful if you picked someone just like her.”
“But I picked her,” Alessandro Valmont insisted, not liking the distinction. Someonelikeher just wouldn’t do. “She’s mine.”
THIRTY
Less
God, I feel like a complete fool. And she’s not saying anything at all, staring at me like I sprouted two heads.
But I have to keep going. All cards on the table. No barriers. Just honesty.
“I know I did a shoddy job of proving it,” I admit. “Yeah, I took you for granted. Why wouldn’t I? I never so much as envisioned a future where you wouldn’t be mine, so I didn’t reallyworkto keep you.” A dry chuckle escapes me. “I mean, you agreed to marry me when you were four, after all.”
“Less—” she starts, but her mouth gapes uselessly again.
“I love my name, you know,” I say to fill the terrifying silence. “You came up with it. Every time someone says it, it makes me think of you.”
She’s still not saying anything.
“But turns out, I’m no longer six and adorable, so apparently, it takes more than a wildflower ring to get you.” When humor does nothing, I clear my throat. “I know I’m a bad bet. You already played, already lost, right? That’s why I’m here. I don’t want you to give up on anything. I remember what you told my father. You were absolutely right. You deserve to experience everything you want. You want to become a kick-ass editor? Try all the things the world has to offer? Travel, swim with dolphins, fuck half of London?” I make myself shrug. “That’s fine. It’s all fine with me. Just let me be a part of it. I don’t care how long it takes for you to trust me a little. I’m not leaving. Just…”
Shit, I’m losing it. She was supposed to say something before now. “Fuck off” would have been better than this stunned silence.
I clear my throat. “Please.”
At long, long last, words crossed her lips. “I died.”
I blink. “I beg your pardon?”
“I died, didn’t I? I’m in some weird heaven slash purgatory. You’re about to turn into some sort of demon and take this all away because I didn’t go to church or donate enough money. This… You can’t. It’s not possible.”
That’s…a good thing, right? Other than the fact that I’m going to have to treat her for shock.
“I’m here.”
“You can’t be. You don’t even remember playing with me that day.”
“Are you high?” I check. “Of course I remember. It was the day your little sister was born, right? I learned, later, that’s why you were in the gardens. When my mother heard one of her employees was going into labor early, she had the staff bring you out there, so your dad could be with her. I didn’t know at the time, naturally. But I watched you from that day. Why do you think my dad offered me in the first place? I hadn’t shut up about marrying you someday for over half of my life by the time your dad saved my sister.”
All the truths bubble out of my mouth, because they’ve always seemed so obvious to me, but each one makes her eyes widen further.
“But, but…”
“Of course, Nic, the little shit, said he wanted the other sister.” He rolls his eyes. “And then he managed to hold on to her.”
“Less, it makes no fucking sense. If you were so much into me, why—”
I sigh, awkward and impossibly annoyed with myself. “I was a horny teen. And honestly? Since I knew I was marrying you, it made sense to, you know. Practice. Know what I’d be doing with you. And give you room to do the same. To me, the moment we were properly together, there would be no going back. I’m so sorry I fucked it all up. And then, I thought I’d better give you a little space…except it’s been four years, and I’m fucking drowning without you, Ivy.”
She takes one step, those impossibly gorgeous eyes never leaving mine. “I’m not dreaming?”
“You’re not dreaming.” I draw her into my arms, squeezing her so tight.
She doesn’t let go, bringing her arms around my shoulders.
Hugging.
Who the fuck knew.
